Libby Baney Discusses Illicit Health Products With World Trademark Review and InsideHealthPolicy

In articles for World Trademark Review and InsideHealthPolicy, government and regulatory partner Libby Baney discussed the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) increasing its efforts to tackle a variety of illicit health products from entering the U.S.

Baney, who serves as senior adviser for the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies, told World Trademark Review, “Combatting the proliferation of illicit health products is a battle with many fronts, from the anonymous corners of the internet and social media to vast international ports of entry across the United States.”

“Like the FDA’s Online Opioid Summits and steady crackdowns on illegal online drug sellers peddling fake opioids and fraudulent COVID-19 treatments, Operation Lascar demonstrates how the FDA continues to prioritize — and protect — public health and patient safety,” noted Baney. “We look forward to supporting the FDA’s ongoing work to ensure the safety of our supply chain and the consumers who depend on it,” she added.

Baney explained to InsideHealthPolicy that illicit drug regulation takes a collaborative effort between many aspects of government. “It takes a village to solve this problem because no one division of government is solely responsible for the issue. It cuts across judiciary issues, which is law enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol and health regulatory authorities, like the FDA.”

Baney also stated, “Illicit trade is international, big business, and so it requires coordination within the United States government, as well as across governments, to share information very practically just on leads and intelligence. What’s happening in your country is going to affect our country.”

The full articles are available for World Trademark Review and InsideHealthPolicy subscribers.